Machine for washing drinking vessels



Oct. 10,1944. ROHME 2,360,156

MACHINE FOR WASHING DRINKING VESSELS Filed March 7, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 grwwvm Walter P. Ohme and Egg C. Stephan Oct. 10, 1944. w, RyoH E ,5 AL 2,360,156

MACHINE FOR WASHING DRINKING VESSELS Filed March 7, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Walter P Ohrne and R Q. Stephan gwzzpgw f Patented Oct. 10, 1944 MACHINE FOR WASHING DRINKING" VESVSELS WalterF. Qhrne and Ray 0. Stephan, ltiinneapolis, Minn.

Application March-'7, 1942, Serial-No. 433,744 I 4 Claims. (Cl. 141-3) travels and by means of which theglasses are cleaned. r I

.An object of the invention resides in utilizing the water passing through the water .motorlfor operatingthe sprays.

Another object .of the invention residesin providing the machine with a housing having a lateral wall structure formed; with an opening therein through which access to the interior of the housing may be had and with a top extend,- ing across the upper end of the lateralwallstrncture. 7 a An object of the invention resides inv attaching the water motor to the top and inisupportin'g the rack from the water motor. r

A feature of the. invention resides in the-specific construction of the water motor. I

Another object-of the inventionresides inp oviding the motor with a depending shaft and in attaching the rack to said shaft.

A still further object of the invention resides in attaching to the under side of the topaibrajcket and in securing to the bracket a guard-for guarding the water motor and associated parts.

Another object of the invention resides in employing a valve mechanism for controlling the flow of water to the motor andin supporting the valve mechanism from the bracket.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated. and/or described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational sectional view of a machine for washing drinking vessels, illustrating an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 isa plan sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an inverted sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. V v

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan sectional view taken on-line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal elevationalsectional view of the-motor and a portion of the rack.

Fig. 6 is a plan sectional view of the pressureregulating valve taken on line- 66- of Fig. 1 and drawn to a greater scale.

Fig. '7 is an elevational sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

f Fig; 8 is a cross sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig. 6.

Our invention comprises a housing which we haveindicated in its entirety by the reference character A, and in which the washing mechanism of the invention is disposed. The washing mechanism of the invention comprises a revolvin'g rackB, driven through a water motor C. A series of sprays, to be later described. spray water on the glasses carried by the rack, as the rack is rotated past the sprays. These various parts will now be described in detail.

The housing A consists of a tray in, circular in form, which is constructed with-a bottom I I having a rim I2 extending upwardly therefrom. The bottom II is preferably sloping toward the forward portion of the'tray, where a drain I3 is provided by means of which the water discharged into the housing may be removed from the machine. The tray l0 may be. constructed as a stamping, or the same may be spun from sheet metal, or constructed in any other suitable manner. The'housing further comprises a circular wall l5, which is disposed within the rim I2. of tray- I0, resting upon the bottom thereof. A lip [4 at the upper edge of the rim l2 engages the wall I5 and makes a tight connectiontherewith.

A number of bolts 16 pass-through the said rim and wall, and attach the wall to. the tray Ill. To the upper portion of the. wall 15 is attached atop H which is provided with a flange 2!! welded or brazed to the wall IS. The top jl'l" forms a support for the motor C and certain of. the sprays of the invention. A cover l8 fits over'the top. H. and conceals the bolts used; forusecuring the motor to the said top. This cover is. constructed with a skirt [9 which extends; down.- wardly' therefrom and which overlies the outer surface of the wall 15, The cover ,l8;may be secured to the wall [5 b means of bolts 2.l or in any other suitable manner. Thev wall [54s .constructed at the forward portion thereof withv an opening 23 at the front ofv the housing; through which access may be had to the interior. thereof andto the glassesplaced on the rack. B. A split tube-22., constructed ofnrub-ber or somesimilar material, receives the free edge of the wall l5 at. the opening 23 and forms a protection for the 'jointly through the same.

same. A similar protecting member 24 also constructed of rubber, encircles the portion of the rim I2 of tray l0, exposed at the opening 23.

The rack B comprises a table 25 which is constructed of a number of circularly disposed, con- 28 and the outermost ring 26 to hold the parts in properly assembled position. The rings 26, 21 and 28 all lie with their edges in a common horizontal plane, so as to form a suitable support for the glasses. The surface formed by the upper edges of these rings is substantially at the elevation of the upper surface of the member 24 at the lowermost portion of the opening 23, so that glasses inserted into the. housing A through the opening 23 may be easily placedupon the table 25. The rack B is rotatably supported by and driven by the motor C, as will be presently explained in detail.

The motor C is best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and consists of a case 36 formed of sheet metal and constructed in two halves, 31 and 38. The half 31 is formed with a top 39 and a circumferential wall 4| provided at its periphery with a flange 42. The half 38 is similarly constructed with a bottom 43 having a circumferential wall.

these flanges is disposeda gasket 41 by means of which a fluid-tight. connection is formed between the two parts of the case. A lip 4-8, depending from the flange 42, serves to center the half 38 of the case 36 with reference to the half 31 thereof. The motor is attached to the top H of housing A b means of a bracket. I88. This bracket has a base III] which is secured to the top |1' by means of bolts I28 Which pass A number of screws 38 extend through the top 39 of the case 36 of said motor and are threaded into the base IIU of bracket I08.

The bottom 43 of case 36 has issuing from it a neck 49 which receives a sleeve depending from the case. This sleeve may be secured to the neck by soldering, brazing or otherwise, and is rigidly attached thereto. 7

In the interior of the case 36 is a plate 52 which has attached to it a boss 53 adapted to extend into the uppermost portion of the sleeve 5|; This boss has mounted in it a bearing 54 rotatably supporting a shaft 55 at its upper end. Shaft 55 is rotatably mounted at its lower end in a ball bearing 56 which is received within an annular recess 7 51 in the lower end of the sleeve 5|. A cap 58, engaging the outer race of the bearing 56, holds the same in position. The inner race of the bearing is pressed on the shaft 55. g

Within the case 36 is disposed a rotor 6|. This rotor consists of a hub 62 which is formed with a chamber 63 Within the same. Two bent tubes 64 having bores 60 therein are attached to this hub and are arranged in oppositely extending radial directions. The ends 65 of these tubes are bent to extend substantially circumferentially.

The outer ends 65 of the bores of these tubes are open and communicate with the interior of the case 36, while the inner ends of said bores communicate with the chamber 63. The lower end of the hub 62 of rotor 6| is provided with a bore 66 which receives a hardened pin 61. Pin 61 rests on a ball 68 which is mounted in a bore '69 in a bushing 1|, set into a socket 12 formed in the upper end of the shaft 55. A disk 13 of hardened material is received within the lowermost portion of the socket 12 and forms a support for the ball 68. The pin 61 fits loosely within the bore 69 of bushing 1|, the ball '68 forming an antifriction bearing for supporting the lower end of the hub 62. The upper end of the hub 62 is formed with a bore 14 which receives a nipple 15 projecting downwardly from a stud 16. The stud 16 is constructed with a passageway 11 within the same which communicates with the bore 18 of a tube 19 secured thereto. The tube 19 is connected to a tube fitting 8| attached to the wall 4| of the upper half 31 of case 36. When water under pressure is directed to the bore 18 of tube 19, the same flows through the passageway 11 ofthe stud 16 and to the chamber 63 of therotor 6| and is discharged from the rotor through the bores 68 of the tubes 64. The reaction of the water in striking the bent ends of the tubes 64 causes rotation of the rotor .6|.. Theweight of the rotor 6| is carried on the ball 68 and the said rotor bein closely balanced, offers no appreciable friction between the nipple 15 and the hub 62 at the locality of the bore 14 therein. The rotor '6 thus travels freely and with maximum efllciency. r

The hub 62 of rotor 6| is constructed with a spur pinion 82 which mesheswith a spur gear 83 mounted on a tubular shaft 84. The shaft 84 is rotatably mounted on a stud 85 which issecured to the plate 52 and extends upwardl therefrom. The shaft is held in place by means of a screw 86 which is threaded into the end of the stud 8 5 and a'washer which is clamped between said screw and stud. The shaft 84 has formed on it a 5| is a tubular guard 93.

" the guard 93 communicates with thegbore spur pinion 86 which meshes with a spur gear 81. Spur gear 81 is similarly secured to a hollow shaft |81 which has attached to it a spur pinion 88. Shaft I81 is supported for rotation similarly to the shaft. Pinion 88 meshes with a spungear 89 which is secured to a spur pinionl9 lf The pinion 9| and the gear 89 are rotatably mounted in the same manner as the tubular shaft 84; The pinion 9| meshes with a spur'gear 92 'secured'to the upper end of the shaft 55.- By means of the gear train described, the rotor 6| travels at a relatively high rate of speed, procuring rotation of the shaft 55 at a greatly reduced rate of speed.

To prevent water which leaks into the bearing 54 and past the boss 53 from reaching the ball bearing 55, the following construction is employed: Encircling the shaft 55 within the sleeve This guard is formed with a reduced portion 94 which fits tightly about the shaft 55 in proximity to the bearing 56 and which may be soldered or otherwise secured to said shaft to form a water-tight connection therebetween. In the shaft 55 isformed a longitudinal bore 95 which communicates with the socket 12 and extends a shortdistance beyond the cap 58. A transverse hole 96 in theshaft 55 immediately above the ,reduced portion pof A similar hole 91 in the shaft 55 below the cap 58 also communicates with this bore. The lower end of the boss 53 is constructed with an annular groove 98 which receives the upper end of the guard 93 and forms in conjunction therewith a break for preventing the flow of water entering the guard 93 from spilling out over the said tube and into. the interior of the sleeve 51. It will thus be seen that any'water leaking past the bearing 54 will pass into theinterior of the guard 93 and will enter the'hole 96, passing through the bore 95 and being discharged from the shaft 55 through the hole 91 at a locality below the bearing 56, thus bypassing said bearing.

. The hub 3| of the spider 29 is adapted to rest upon and, be supported by a revolving support I9,I mounted on the end of the shaft 55. The

hub 3I is constructed with a. bore I92 which receives a cylindrical portion I93 of the support I9I. This cylindrical portion has issuing outwardly from it a flange I94 on which the hub 3| rests. The lower end of the. shaft 55, designated by the reference numeral I95 is reduced in diameter and extends through the support "II. This portion of the shaft is threaded to receive a nut I96 which securely attaches the said support to the end of the shaft. It will thus be comprehended that the rack B is rotatably mounted on the end of the shaft 55 and trayels at a relatively low rate of speed upon operation of themotor C.

For the purpose of guarding the motor 0, and to cause the placement of the drinking vessels upon the supporting surface of the table 25, an annular guard I91 is employed which is disposed at. the forward portion of the housing A and immediately in front of the opening 23 therein. For supporting this guard, the attaching member or bracket I98 is employed which comprises, in

addition to the base I I9, an annular flange I99 depending therefrom. This flange is threaded to receive two thumb screws III which extend through the guard I91 and serve to securely attach the same thereto. When in position, the lower edge of the guard I91 extends above the ring 28 of rack B and prevents the drinking vessels from being placed inwardly of the same, thus causing the proper positioning of the drinking vessels upon the table 25.

Water for the operation of the motor C comes from two tubes H2 and H3 which are attached totube fittings II2 and II? adapted to be connected to suitable sources of supply for hot and cold water. The tube I I2 is connected by means of a tube connection 4 with a valve II5, while the tube I I3 is connected by means of a tube connection I I6 with a valve I I1. Inasmuch as both of the valves H and H1 are identical in construction, only the valve I I1 will be described in detail. This'valve comprises a valve body II8 which is secured to the bracket I68 by means of a screw II9 which extends through said bracket and is threaded into the valve body. The valve body H8 is provided with a chamber I 2I and with a passageway I22 communicatin therewith. A valve seat I23 encircles the passageway I22 where thesame enters the chamber I2I. The passageway I22 communicates with the tube H2 and forms the inlet passageway of the valve. Attached to the body I I8 by means of threads I24 is-a bonnet I25 which is internally threaded to receive a threaded valve stem I26. The valve stem I26 has attached to the end of it a valve head I21 which is adapted to engage the seat I23 when the valve stem I26 is rotated. A stuffing box I28 prevents leakage of water past the stem I26. The valve stem I26 extends outwardly through the-forward portion of the wall I5 of.

housing A andthrough the skirt I 9 of the top I8 and is provided at its outermost endwith a handle I29 by means of which the same may be manipulated. Extending between the two valves I I5 and I I1 is a conduit I3I which communicates with both of the chambers I2I in said valves. This conduit is formed with an outlet passageway: I32 which is connected to-a tube I33 by means of a tube connection I34. is connected to a pressure-regulating valve I35 which is supported by said tube and which, in turn, is connected by another tube I36 with the tube fitting 8| at the end of the tube 19 which supplies water to the motor C. It will thus be comprehended that water of any desired temperature and at any pressure within the range of" the apparatus, may be conducted to the motor C. I

The pressure-regulating valve I35 is shown in detail in Figs 6,,"1. and 8. This pressure-regulating valve includes a body I31 having a longitudinal passageway I38 therein. This passageway is enlarged at onev end'to form a chamber I39 and a tapered valve seat I4I therebetween. Within the chamber I39. is provided a ball I42 adapted to fit against the valve seat I4I. The tube I36 is attached to the body I31 and com municates with the passageway I38, while the tube I33 is attached to saidbody and communicates with the chambe I39 through a short passageway I43. Movement of the ball I92 toward the valve seat I 4| is controlled by means of a plunger I46 which is slidably mounted in the bore I45 of a screw I46 threaded to screw into the outer end of the passageway I38. A compression coil spring ,I41, disposed within the bore I and seated against the plunger I44, urgessaid plunger outwardly. Movement, of the ball I42 in the opposite direction is limited, by means of an a justing screw I48 which is screwed into a threaded plug I49. This plug is itself screwed into the body I31 at the end of the chamber I39. A lock nut I5I serves to hold the screw I III in adjusted position.

; Extending around the valve seat MI is a bypass I52 which communicates with the passageway I38 and the chamber I39 as best shown in Figs. 6, and 8. A volume control screw I53 is threaded into the body I31 and extends up into the ,by-pass I52 intermediate the ends thereof. By adjusting the screw I53,'the amount of water passing through the passageway may be controlled at will. A look nut I54 on this screw holds the same in adjusted position.

The operation of the pressure-regulating valve I35 is as follows? The greater percentage of the water passing to the motor C passes through the by-pass I52. This volume is determined by adjusting the screw I53. Asmall part of the Water passes through the passageway I38 and past the valve ball I42. The quantity of water so flowing is controlled by the position of the screw I46 and the pressure exerted by the spring I41. When the pressure of the water in the tube I36 increases, the pressure on the ball I42 causes the same to move toward the seat I4I against the action of the spring I41 and to control the amount of water passing therethrough, thus maintaining the pressure substantially constant. When the pressure in the tube I36 is reduced, the spring I45 forces the ball I42 outwardly and more water flows through the passageway I38, thusagain equalizing the pressure. In this manner, uniform pressure is at all times had for operation of the motor C.

The spray system of the invention includes The tube I33 manner.

'an upper spray unit I6I and a lower spray unit which extends rearwardly andsisconnected to a,

tube fitting I65 at the rearward portion of the housing A immediately below the top I1 thereof. The spray unit I6I comprisestwo branch tubes I66 and.I61 which are connected to thetube fitting I65 and which are arranged in the form of loops, the ends I68 thereof being closed. Along these. branch tubes are provided spray nozzles I69 which may be constructed in any suitable These spray nozzles have outlets I 1| in them through which water passing through the branch tubes may be discharged downwardly toward the rack B. The various spray nozzles I69 are arranged to direct the water atthe proper angle with respect to drinking vessels to wash the surfaces thereof as the device operates. I

Extending downwardly from the tube fitting -I65 is a feed tube I12 which delivers water to the spray unit I62 and which is connected at its lower end to another tube fitting I13. The spray unit I62 as best shown in Fig. 2 comprises two arcuate manifolds I14 and I15 which extend along the wall I of the housing A and are connected to the tube fitting I13. Extending radially and inwardly from the manifolds I14 and I15 are branch tubes I16, I11, I18, I19 and I 8I which communicate therewith and which are closed at their outer ends. These branch tubes have attached to them spray nozzles I82, similar to the spray nozzles I1I which are attached to the tubes I66 and I61. These spray nozzles have outlets I83 which direct the water entering the nozzles outwardly and towardthe top I1 of the case A.

The operation of the device is as follows: The motor'C is first set in operation by opening the two valves II5 and H1 which are controlled by the handles l29 attached to the operating stems I26 thereof. By properly adjusting these valves, water of any desired temperature is conducted to the motor C. The two streams of water are mixed in the conduit I3I and pass through the conduit I33, the pressure reducing valve I35 and; through the conduit I36 and into the motor C. Onentering the motor, the water passes through the tube 19 and into the rotor 6| which is caused to rotate. The said rotor discharges the water into the interior of the case 36 and the water so discharged leaves the case through the tube I64. After the motor is started, the drinking vessels'to be washed are inserted through the opening23 in housing A and placed in inverted position upon ,the table 25 of rack B. The water, on leaving the tube I6c, is conducted to the two spray units I6I and I62. From these units, the water is discharged through the various nozzles I69 and I82 thereof, and engages the drinking vessels arranged upon the rack B. I It will be noted that the outlets I83 are disposed between the rings 26, 21 and 28, so that the sprays issuing therefrom are discharged upwardly, where the same may enter the interior of the drinking vessels placed upon the rack B, and clean the same. The spray nozzles from the unit I6I operates in a similar manner to direct.water downwardly upon the exterior surface .of the various drinking vessels passing through the machine. As the machine operates, the vessels are carried continuously through the machine and when arriving at the opening 23 in housing A, may be manuallylremoved from rack B. If desired, vessels may be allowed to repeatedly travel throughthe machine and subsequently removed when desired for use.

The advantages of our invention are manifest. An extremely simple and practical construction is provided, in which drinking vessels may be inserted and subsequently removed therefrom clean and sanitary. The water used in cleaning the vessels is first employed to impart rotary movement to the supporting rack, so that no separate source of energy for operating the motor is required. Thus, considerable economy in operation of the device results. The device is extremely easy to operate and to maintain in operating condition. Due to the disposition'of the motor at the uppermost portion of the housing and due to the complete enclosing of the same, injury thereto is prevented, and the accumulation of dirt on the operating parts 'of the same is completely eliminated, so that the motor will operate indefinitely without attention. By means of the construction used in connection with the motor, water is Icy-passed around the lowermost bearing, whereby positive an'd'continuous operation of the rack is made possible.

Changes in the specific form of our invention, as herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for washing drinking vessels, a housing having a wall structure forming a washing chamber and having a lateral opening therein for access tosaid chamber, said housing including a top, a motor suspended from said top and disposed within said chamber, a revoluble rack for drinking vessels depending from said motor and driven thereby, said rack having an annular supporting surface for supporting the drinking vessels, means fixed relative to the housing for spraying water on the drinking vessels as they are carried around by the rack, acurved guard conforming in curvature to the inner confines of the supporting surface of said rack and concentric with the axis of the shaft, said guard enclos ward said rack.

2. In a machine for washing drinking vessels, a housing having -a wall structure forming ,a washing chamber and having a lateral opening therein for access to said chamber, a motor within said housing and disposed at the upper portion thereof, said motor having a case and a rotor within said case, means for conducting water under pressure to said rotor, said water discharging into said case, a neck extending downwardly from said case, hearings in the upper and lower ends of said neck, ashaft rotatably mounted in said bearings and driven by said rotor, a rack carried by said shaft, a tubular guard encircling said shaft and disposed within said neck,--said guard at the lowermost end thereof being secured to said shaft and above its locality of 'atfixed relative to the housing for spraying water on the drinking vessels as they are carried around by the rack.

3. In a machine for washing drinking vessels, a housing having a wall structure forming a washing chamber and having a lateral opening therein for access to said chamber; a motor within said housing and disposed at the upper portion thereof, said motor having a case and a rotor within said case, means for conducting water under pressure to said rotor, said water discharging into said case, a neck extending downwardly from said case, bearings in the upper and lower ends of said neck, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bearings and driven by said rotor, a rack carrigi by said shaft, and means within said neck arid cooperating with said shaft for by-passing water leaking through the uppermost bearing and past the lowermost bearing.

4. In a machine for washing drinking vessels,

a housing having a wall structure forming a washing chamber and having a lateral opening therein for access to said chamber, a motor within said housing and disposed at the upper portion thereof, said motor having a case and a rotor within said case, means for conducting water under pressure to said rotor, said water discharging into said case, a neck extending downwardly from said case, bearings in the upper and lower ends of said neck, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bearings and driven by said rotor, a rack carried by said shaft, a passageway in said shaft having an inlet above the lowermost bearing and an outlet below the lowermost bearing and means within said neck for conducting the water leaking past said upper bearing into the inlet.

WALTER F. OHME.

RAY C. STEPHAN. 

